Oregon Ducks offensive line raises bar on 'aggressive nastiness'

Oregon running back Kenjon Barner (24) celebrates scoring a touchdown with the blockers who got him there during the second half of an NCAA college football game against the Southern California, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Los Angeles. Oregon won 62-51. AP Photo

EUGENE -- Oregon running back Kenjon Barner's name will be the only one
listed in the Ducks' record book next to his single-game rushing mark of
321 yards set Saturday at USC.

That's a shame, because Barner
had plenty of help from an offensive line that was on point with its
blocks all night and a receiving corps that harassed USC's secondary to
the point of frustration.

The blocking performance was so good that it set a new benchmark for the No. 2 Ducks.

"We played better up front than we had all year, and now that's our standard," Oregon offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said.

That's
not to say Oregon expects to reach 426 yards rushing every week, like
it did at USC. But the Ducks, second in the nation at 341.1 rushing
yards per game, do expect to maintain a similar level of destruction in
terms of execution.

"I think that whenever you come out and show
that you can block like that, that's a standard your coaches expect
from you," offensive lineman Nick Cody said. "Against every team you
play from here on out, especially when you have the mindset that we do,
that every game is your Super Bowl, we expect that this should only
improve."

Oregon pushed around USC as if it were a second-rate
program. It is not. The Trojans entered the game allowing 3.5 yards per
carry. The Ducks boosted that number up to 4.1 by averaging 7.1 on 60
carries.

Barner, whose performance earned him Pac-12 offensive
player of the week honors, demonstrated great patience to allow blocks
to develop and fought for yards when needed.

"He's becoming more of a short-yardage type of guy that can make long runs," UO running back coach Gary Campbell said.

But
the truth is that Barner didn't meet much resistance at the line of
scrimmage. Oregon's offensive linemen routinely found their targets and
pushed them aside or walled them off, creating a maze for Barner to
navigate through, oftentimes with relative ease.

Left tackle
Tyler Johnstone said the line played with a level of aggressive
nastiness that went beyond any prior performance this season.

Adding
to the team's punch was massive senior lineman Kyle Long (6-foot-7, 311
pounds). He transferred to Oregon this fall as a left tackle but has
not been able to unseat Johnstone for that starting spot. On Saturday,
he started at left guard alongside Johnstone, and the two dominated
their side of the field.

"Kyle played well," Helfrich said. "He
was definitely a fish out of water at certain times, but man, when that
guy gets on you ..."

Johnstone said he wondered how Long would do with a new position, until about the first play.

"Right
away he had it down," Johnstone said. " He knew all of his assignments.
We had good communication. Our combination blocks were good ... We have
a good thing going on that side."

The quality blocking didn't
end with the line. UO's wide receivers dominated downfield. Each of
Barner's five touchdowns ended with a wide receiver in the face of a
helpless USC defensive back.

"What we try to preach is that team
deal," Helfrich said. "Kenjon, deservedly so, gets a ton of credit but a
bunch of guys were working hard to make it happen, and he knows that."

Now
the dominance is expected to continue. Should it, Barner, who has 1,295
yards and 19 rushing touchdowns this season, might have a shot at the
receiving the Heisman Trophy. His stock in that area rose considerably
after Sunday. Some pundits have him ranked second behind Kansas State
quarterback Collin Klein.

"It's exciting hearing other people
talking about it," Johnstone said. "It is something that's in the back
of your mind. If we're blocking for a Heisman contender, then that means
(the linemen) must have been playing at least adequately for that to be
possible."

Still, Oregon's attention will remain on playing well, not winning accolades.

"You
can't be focused on trying to make one player succeed," Johnstone said.
"If we do what we're doing, what we're being coached to do, then we
will get the job done. ... But the ultimate goal is to win the national
championship."